This October, Younity invites the community to stand together during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Guided by the national theme, With Survivors, Always/Con los Sobrevivientes, Siempre, Younity will host two events intended to uplift victim-survivors and honor lives lost: the Stepping Out of the Darkness DVAM Walk and the 24th Annual Communities of Light.
On Saturday, Oct. 25, Younity will host the Stepping Out of the Darkness DVAM Walk in Cadwalader Park in Trenton. Survivors, families, and supporters will walk side by side to break the silence around abuse and affirm that no one is alone. Ambassadors include Eva Phillips, a survivor whose courage and advocacy challenge the stigma of victim-blaming, and Maureen Spataro of the Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation, which honors the legacy of a young woman whose life was tragically cut short by domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is so often whispered about. Victim-survivors are asked to carry the burden in silence. This walk is about saying out loud: You are not alone, you have nothing to be ashamed of, and your community is here to stand with you, always,” said Varonda Kendrick, Younity’s Response Teams Coordinator.
The walk is to begin at 9 a.m., with registration opening at 8:30 a.m. Families are invited to walk in remembrance by carrying a photo, a banner, or simply a loved one’s name.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month concludes with the 24th Annual Communities of Light on Monday, Oct. 27. At sundown, thousands of luminaries will glow across Mercer County in a shared act intended to engender remembrance and solidarity. What began as a grassroots effort 24 years ago has become a major Younity fundraiser. The organization says it provides critical support for shelter, counseling, legal advocacy and prevention education.
“Lighting one candle may seem like a small act,” said Nathalie S. Nelson, president & CEO of Younity. “But when thousands shine together across all of Mercer County, they illuminate the path forward and send a promise to every survivor: we see you, we believe you, and we will not turn away.”
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